Although Rousimar Palhares has been banned by the UFC for the controversial heel hook he used to injure Mike Pierce on October 9th, due to his name and… Read More

]]>

Palhares (photo via UFC.com)

Fitch Stands By Previous Comments About Welterweight

By Kelsey Mowatt

Although Rousimar Palhares has been banned by the UFC for the controversial heel hook he used to injure Mike Pierce on October 9th, due to his name and abilities, many believe he’ll find a new employer soon. In fact, not long after the 15-5 fighter was released, Palhares’ manager Alex Davis relayed that promotions have already contacted him about the welterweight

Well, recently Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said he was not interested in signing the 33 year-old vet, and now WSOF President Ray Sefo has echoed similar sentiments.

“His past is not good,” Sefo said during a WSOF media call Monday, while discussing whether the promotion might look to sign Palhares. “Obviously the team and I have talked about it, and he probably needs to seek some sort of help, or talk to somebody, a psychiatrist that would help him from hurting fighters.”

Palhares was also disciplined in 2010, and was suspended by New Jersey officials, after he didn’t immediately release the heel hook he used to submit Tomasz Drwal at UFC 111.

“At the end of the day, we don’t want that, and until he does that we won’t look at signing him anytime soon,” Sefo added. “Again, I’ve talked to the team and we all agree that he has to somewhat get therapy, or whatever he needs to do to try to help that situation.”

Since the UFC Fight Night 29 incident, Palhares has said he never intends to hurt any “athlete”, and was just trying to “finish the fight” versus Pierce. In addition, the fighter has been defended by his manager Alex Davis, as well as members of Team Nogueira, who say Palhares is a kind and humble person. Davis has also said that Palhares has worked hard on ensuring he no longer injures teammates or opponents.

Jon Fitch (photo via UFC.com)

WSOF welterweight Jon Fitch recently relayed that he wouldn’t fight Palhares, by citing the fact that the fighter is a repeat offender and that prolonged joint locks are extremely dangerous. The 35 year-old, who is set to fight Marcelo Alfaya at WSOF 6 on Saturday, was asked during the call if he still stands by those statements.

“He’d definitely have to prove that he is no longer out there trying to cripple people after the fight is over,” said Fitch, whose comment received an “absolutely” from Sefo. “I give an example of one of my teammates Mike Kyle, where he had a bad fight where he was in the wrong. He continued to strike an opponent after the ref stopped it and he had to be physically pulled off the guy…he’s been 100% since then. He’s proven himself and that was a mistake, and a bad thing.”

“With Palhares it seems to be a reoccurring; it’s happened twice in the UFC and in his grappling matches it’s happened a number of times,” Fitch furthered. “It’s just not what our sport is. We’re trying to beat each other up, but when someone concedes and gives up, you don’t continue to crank on submissions. You can end someone’s career that way.”

WSOF 6 will take place October 26th at the Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Florida. The card will be headlined by a welterweight bout between Josh Burkman and Steve Carl to determine the promotion’s first champion.

A couple of days ago word surfaced that Mike Pierce had suffered a severely strained MCL in his left knee, due to the heel hook of Rousimar Palhares at UFC FN 29, and now the fighter is… Read More

]]>

Pierce

By FCF Staff

A couple of days ago word surfaced that Mike Pierce had suffered a severely strained MCL in his left knee, due to the heel hook of Rousimar Palhares at UFC FN 29, and now the fighter is reporting that he also has a torn ligament in his ankle. The good news is that doctors are hopeful neither injury will require surgery.

Pierce has relayed the news to MMA Fighting.com, as the MRI results for his ankle were not known earlier in the week. Pierce will be examined once again by his doctors in two to three weeks to see how his injuries are recovering.

The 33 year-old, who had won four straight fights prior to UFC FN 29, was given a 180 medical suspension by Brazilian authorities after the fight. Pierce could fight earlier provided he’s cleared to do so by a doctor.

Palhares, who did not immediately let go of the submission after the referee intervened, has been banned by the UFC. The veteran has said he never intended to injure Pierce.

Now that Rousimar Palhares has been banned by the UFC for the controversial heel hook he used to defeat Mike Pierce at UFC Fight Night 29, news has surfaced as to the extent of the latter’s injuries.… Read More

]]>

Palhares tapping Pierce (photo via UFC / FOX Sports)

By FCF Staff

Now that Rousimar Palhares has been banned by the UFC for the controversial heel hook he used to defeat Mike Pierce at UFC Fight Night 29, news has surfaced as to the extent of the latter’s injuries. Pierce was visibly in pain as a result of the heel hook, which Palhares did not immediately release after the referee intervened to stop the fight.

According to a report from MMA Junkie.com, Pierce’s trainer, Phil Claud, has informed the outlet that the welterweight has a severely strained MCL in his left knee. Doctor’s do not believe surgery will be required. The camp is still waiting to see the results of the MRI that was taken for Pierce’s left ankle, however, which was also injured in the fight.

More on when Pierce can expect to return to action will be known in the coming days.

Following the October 9th bout, Brazilian authorities medically suspended Pierce for 180 days, however, he could fight before then if he is cleared by a physician.

The latest edition of Full Contact Fighter Radio features talks with the UFC flyweight Chris Cariaso, WSOF lightweight Justin Gaethje and MFC 155’er Kurt Southern.

Cariaso is coming off a stoppage win over Iliarde Santos at UFC… Read More

]]>

Chris Cariaso kicking Will Campuzano (photo via UFC.com / ZUFFA)

By FCF Staff

The latest edition of Full Contact Fighter Radio features talks with the UFC flyweight Chris Cariaso, WSOF lightweight Justin Gaethje and MFC 155’er Kurt Southern.

Cariaso is coming off a stoppage win over Iliarde Santos at UFC FN 29 on October 9th, while the undefeated Gaethje is scheduled to fight Dan Lauzon at WSOF 6 on October 26th. Southern, meanwhile, scored a TKO win over Jonatas Novaes at MFC 38 recently to take another step towards to a title shot.

While it remains to be seen how extensively Mike Pierce was hurt, as a result of a fight ending heel hook which Rousimar Palhares did not immediately release, but the rugged welterweight has picked up a lengthy… Read More

]]>

Palhares tapping Pierce (photo via UFC / FOX Sports)

By FCF Staff

While it remains to be seen how extensively Mike Pierce was hurt, as a result of a fight ending heel hook which Rousimar Palhares did not immediately release, but the rugged welterweight has picked up a lengthy medical suspension in the interim,

According to multiple reports, Pierce has been medically suspended for 180 days by Brazilian officials, following UFC Fight Night 29. The 33 year-old will be able to return to action earlier, however, provided he’s cleared by a physician.

Palhares has been banned by the UFC for not releasing the submission after the referee intervened and Pierce continued to tap-out. Pierce had won four straight heading into the fight, two of which had come via stoppage.

The only other fighter to received a medical suspension beyond 45 days was Erick Silva, who cannot fight for 60 days as a result of the knockout out loss he suffered versus Dong Hyun Kim.

The UFC has made it clear that ignoring a referee’s attempts to halt a fight will not be tolerated, by announcing Thursday that Rousimar Palhares has been banned for his controversial submission at UFC FN 29. Now… Read More

]]>

Palhares

By FCF Staff

The UFC has made it clear that ignoring a referee’s attempts to halt a fight will not be tolerated, by announcing Thursday that Rousimar Palhares has been banned for his controversial submission at UFC FN 29. Now the fighter’s manager, Alex Davis, has released a statement relaying the reaction of Palhares and his plans for the future.

According to a report from MMA Junkie.com, Davis said Palhares ”was very sad to hear Dana’s decision. He is not a bad person or dirty fighter, and he is not trying to hurt people. Somehow, he just doesn’t hear or feel things at these moments. He worked very hard to get this far in his career, and he is not going to give up on it. He loves fighting. This is what he does. He apologizes to his fans, and will work hard to resolve these issues and fight in another event that would be interested in having him.”

Davis also added that he “understands Dana’s (White) perspective” and that he will continue to support Palhares in his fighting career.

The 33 year-old has been cut by the UFC, after he did not immediately release the heel hook he used to tap-out Mike Pierce Wednesday night. Palhares was suspended in 2010 for 90 days for doing the same thing versus Tomasz Drwal at UFC 111.

In addition to losing out on “Submission of the Night” and an extra $50,000, Rousimar Palhares will be disciplined further, for not immediately releasing the heel hook he used to submit Mike Pierce Wednesday.

In addition to losing out on “Submission of the Night” and an extra $50,000, Rousimar Palhares will be disciplined further, for not immediately releasing the heel hook he used to submit Mike Pierce Wednesday.

Palhares quickly caught Pierce with the dangerous technique at UFC Fight Night 29, but held onto the submission for a moment after the referee stopped the fight. According to a report from MMA Fighting.com, UFC President Dana White has relayed that Palhares will receive an additional punishment. What the disciplinary action will be specifically, however, has yet to be determined.

The promotion did not award Palhares “Submission of the Night” due to “unsportsmanlike conduct“. There were no other submissions during the card.

The feared submission artist was suspended for 90 days in 2011, after he didn’t immediately let go of the heel hook he used to tap-out Tomasz Drwal at UFC 111.

Palhares had lost back-to-back bouts to Hector Lombard and Alan Belcher before last night’s fight, and was also making his welterweight debut. The 33 year-old holds a record of 15-5.

Although Dong Hyun Kim has recorded impressive wins in the past, the welterweight has utilized his overbearing top game to record many of them. At UFC Fight Night 29, however, the Judoka knocked out Erick Silva with… Read More

]]>

Dong Hyun Kim (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Although Dong Hyun Kim has recorded impressive wins in the past, the welterweight has utilized his overbearing top game to record many of them. At UFC Fight Night 29, however, the Judoka knocked out Erick Silva with a thundering left hand and earned “Knockout of the Night” for his efforts.

The South Korean fighter, who has won three straight, earned an extra $50,000 for the award.

“Fight of the Night”, and $50 grand each, went to bantamweights Raphael Assuncao and TJ Dillashaw. The top ten ranked fighters went at it for three action packed rounds, both standing and on the ground.

After the entertaining bout, Assuncao was awarded the split decision win.

No submission of the night was handed out, due to what the UFC’s official Twitter feed said was ”unsportsman-like conduct”. The only submission during the night was by Rousimar Palhares, who quickly caught Mike Pierce with a painful looking heel hook. The former middleweight held on to the dangerous technique for a moment after the ref attempted to intervene.

UFC FN 29 took place in Barueri, Brazil, and saw Jake Shields defeat Demian Maia by split decision in the main event.

Welterweights Demian Maia and Jake Shields both made weight this afternoon in Barueri, Brazil, clearing the way to their main event about tomorrow night at UFC Fight Night 29.

Shields came in at 171 pounds for the bout, as did Maia, before the two squared off for the fans and press in attendance.

All of the competitors made weight for the card, expect for light-heavyweight Thiago Silva, who weighed in at 208. The veteran’s opponent Matt Hamill tipped the scales at 205. Silva has one hour to cut the additional two pounds.

Here are the official weigh-in results for UFC FN 29, which will see the main card broadcast throughout the U.S. on FOX Sports 1.